Sponsor: Workforce Solutions
Title
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COVID-19 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant Award from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submission of an application to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for the COVID-19 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant in an amount of $280,000.
2. Accept a grant award of $295,648 and approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for COVID-19 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant for the period of April 20, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and contracts and execute amendments to agreements and contracts in accordance with the County’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
5. Authorize the County Manager to apply for and accept additional COVID-19 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant funds from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for the period of April 27, 2021 through June 30, 2022 in a form approved by the County Attorney’s office.
6. Authorize the County Manager to make temporary cash loans, as needed, from the County General Fund to Workforce Solutions to cover program expenses until program funds are received, with repayment to be made upon receipt of the funds.
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Background and Rationale
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The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through its Employment and Training Division, sought proposals from Workforce Development Areas to respond to the COVID-19 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG).
This emergency funding will be used to provide employment and training services to Dislocated Workers and pay wages and benefits for individuals who will be placed in temporary employment in Disaster Recovery Humanitarian Jobs. As the state continues to open-up, employers have a great need for workers to assist individuals impacted by COVID-19 and/or conduct services and activities to help maintain the health and safety of the community.
On April 1, 2021, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners was advised by memo of Workforce Solutions’ intent to bring a Request for Board Action to the County Board upon receiving notice of the funding award.
On April 2, 2021, Workforce Solutions submitted an application to DEED with a request for DWG funding of $280,000.
On April 9, 2021, Workforce Solutions was allocated $295,648 from DEED. The funds will be used to serve approximately 30 Ramsey County residents during the period of April 27, 2021 through June 30, 2022. All participants will receive career and training services, and at least 25 of those participants will have direct subsidized placement into disaster relief temporary employment.
Workforce Solutions will collaborate with Goodwill Easter Seals and Hired, the County’s existing Dislocated Worker contracted providers, to meet the goals of this grant as they are both well-established and experienced providers of workforce programming and provide a full range of social services to residents. As a County department, WFS will also leverage cross departmental communications with food, housing, financial, child support and correctional services across the County as referral channels to this program.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Demographics for continued Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims are available at the state and regional levels. This data reveals how workers of color have filed continued UI claims at higher rates than white workers. In the metro area during April and May 2020, the number of UI claims as a share of the labor force peaked at 24.6% for Black or African American workers, 24.1% for American Indian or Alaska Native workers, 15.0% for Asian workers, and 14.7% for Hispanic or Latino workers. In other words, anywhere from one-seventh to one-fourth of workers of color had filed continued UI claims over a single week early in the COVID-19 crisis. By comparison, the share of the white labor force that filed continued claims peaked at 11.5%. Through early 2021 the number of claims has dropped for all races and ethnicities, yet both Black or African American workers and American Indian or Alaska Native workers remain nearly three times as likely to be filing continued claims as white workers in the region.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The DWG grant was released by DEED in response to the needs of the community, particularly those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant funds will impact and empower the community by allowing businesses to employ workers and/or provide services and activities to strengthen our community response to the pandemic
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The addition of this new program will increase the budget for 2021 by the awarded $295,648. As this is a Dislocated Worker grant issued by DEED and is federally funded, Workforce Solutions will be a passthrough entity to existing Dislocated Worker subrecipient vendors. The program will be operated within the grant funding amount.
County Manager Comments
County Board approval is required to submit local area plans, grant applications and to accept grant awards over $100,000.
Last Previous Action
None
Attachments
1. Memorandum to the County Board
2. Covid-19 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant Application
3. Grant Agreement